National College Awareness Week

Office of University Relations
SDSM& T News
501 E. St. Joseph Street • Rapid City, SD 57701- 3995
Phone: ( 605) 394- 6082/ 2554 • Fax: ( 605) 394- 6177
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 1999
SDSM& T RECOGNIZES NATIONAL COLLEGE
AWARENESS WEEK OCTOBER 18- 24
The week of October 18- 24, 1999 is National College Awareness Week across the country. This year several campus groups at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology ( SDSM& T) will help promote responsible drinking and increase awareness about college student alcohol use. Several fraternities, sororities, honor organizations, and the Residence Assistants’ Alcohol and Wellness Task Forces as well as the Tech SADD chapter, are cooperating to produce posters to put around campus depicting responsible drinking.
According to a 1997 Harvard School of Public health study, nearly 43% of college students admitted to binge drinking in the preceding two weeks. Binge drinking is defined as four drinks in a sitting for a woman, and five for a man. The study also found that blood poisoning is not the only risk: binge drinkers are more likely to practice unsafe sex, get into fights, skip class and even drop out of school.
The same study found that there has been a sharp change in why students drink in just a period of four years. In 1993 39% of students drank to get drunk, while in 1997 52% responded yes to the same question.
The responsibilities of college drinking is an issue that is addressed at universities throughout the year, and National College Awareness Week is a time which brings awareness to a heightened level across the country. Many might think that drinking is a part of their ‘ college experience’ but what is often forgotten is that alcohol is a poison and if students choose to drink they must know their limit.
" This year we are focusing on " positive norming" which is an attempt to remind SDSM& T students that most college students do drink responsibly,” said Jolie McCoy, Director, SDSM& T Counseling Services. “ Nationally 76% of college students are moderate or non- drinkers according to the 1998 Core Institute Survey. Also we are lucky at Tech that most of our students use designated drivers when they do drink."
National College Awareness Week at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is focusing on drinking responsibly. SADD and the residence assistants will be participating in the Rapid City Red Ribbon Parade on Saturday, October 16 in downtown Rapid City. The residence halls will also be hosting a Rootbeer ‘ Keg’ party during the week.
For more information about National College Awareness Week at SDSM& T, contact Jolie McCoy at ( 605) 394- 1924.
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Office of University Relations
SDSM& T News
501 E. St. Joseph Street • Rapid City, SD 57701- 3995
Phone: ( 605) 394- 6082/ 2554 • Fax: ( 605) 394- 6177
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 1999
SDSM& T RECOGNIZES NATIONAL COLLEGE
AWARENESS WEEK OCTOBER 18- 24
The week of October 18- 24, 1999 is National College Awareness Week across the country. This year several campus groups at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology ( SDSM& T) will help promote responsible drinking and increase awareness about college student alcohol use. Several fraternities, sororities, honor organizations, and the Residence Assistants’ Alcohol and Wellness Task Forces as well as the Tech SADD chapter, are cooperating to produce posters to put around campus depicting responsible drinking.
According to a 1997 Harvard School of Public health study, nearly 43% of college students admitted to binge drinking in the preceding two weeks. Binge drinking is defined as four drinks in a sitting for a woman, and five for a man. The study also found that blood poisoning is not the only risk: binge drinkers are more likely to practice unsafe sex, get into fights, skip class and even drop out of school.
The same study found that there has been a sharp change in why students drink in just a period of four years. In 1993 39% of students drank to get drunk, while in 1997 52% responded yes to the same question.
The responsibilities of college drinking is an issue that is addressed at universities throughout the year, and National College Awareness Week is a time which brings awareness to a heightened level across the country. Many might think that drinking is a part of their ‘ college experience’ but what is often forgotten is that alcohol is a poison and if students choose to drink they must know their limit.
" This year we are focusing on " positive norming" which is an attempt to remind SDSM& T students that most college students do drink responsibly,” said Jolie McCoy, Director, SDSM& T Counseling Services. “ Nationally 76% of college students are moderate or non- drinkers according to the 1998 Core Institute Survey. Also we are lucky at Tech that most of our students use designated drivers when they do drink."
National College Awareness Week at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is focusing on drinking responsibly. SADD and the residence assistants will be participating in the Rapid City Red Ribbon Parade on Saturday, October 16 in downtown Rapid City. The residence halls will also be hosting a Rootbeer ‘ Keg’ party during the week.
For more information about National College Awareness Week at SDSM& T, contact Jolie McCoy at ( 605) 394- 1924.
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( I: univrel/ pressrel/ 1099 National College Awareness Week fxd local)